$PATH Help

Ok, so this is definately a newbie question, but I can't put my finger on the answer after many hours of research. My $PATH looks like the following;

harryc@linux:~> echo $PATH
/home/harryc/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/bin:/usr/games:/opt/gnome/bin:/opt/kde3/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/jre/bin

Lets say that I want to change a part of it to point to another location for JAVA. How do I do that, and how do I make it permanent? I know I can issue this command to add to $PATH. As follows;

export PATH=/usr/share/j2re1.4.2/bin:$PATH

...and I believe I can make it permanent by adding it to /etc/profile.local. But how do I delete

/usr/lib/jvm/jre/bin

d*** good question! Glad you asked it. Being that I have made a number of symlinks based on howto's & guidance received, one would think that one should know how to undo them. I didn't, so, started looking. I read that it's important to remove them if you have symlinked to the kernel (which I have done) and want to update to a new kernel.

As best as I can report, run "ls -l" & this will give you a list of all your symlinks. Mine was 492 (in root) which was a supprise as I had only created 3 or 4. Evidently every package you load creates its required symlinks -- that's why so many.

Also, as best as I can report, you treat a symlink just as you do any other file & once you find it, just "rm" it.

Let us know how you fare.

Found one more with a little help:

1. Change Directory To /usr/src

cd /usr/src

2. Check for symlink (ex. /usr/src/linux->/usr/src/linux-2.4.18)

ls -alc

3. Double check with this command (output ex.) linux: symbolic link to linux-2.4.18-14

file linux

4. Remove the symlink

rm linux
---------------------------------
Here's what it did for me:

im@linux:~> cd /usr/src
jim@linux:/usr/src> ls -alc
total 1
drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 272 2005-02-20 12:44 .
drwxr-xr-x 13 root root 368 2005-02-23 14:13 ..
drwxr-xr-x 23 root root 696 2005-02-23 19:07 kernel-modules
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 17 2005-02-19 16:51 linux -> linux-2.6.8-24.11
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 72 2005-02-19 16:51 linux-2.6.8-24
drwxr-xr-x 20 root root 712 2005-02-20 12:44 linux-2.6.8-24.11
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 72 2005-02-20 12:44 linux-2.6.8-24.11-obj
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 21 2005-02-19 16:51 linux-obj -> linux-2.6.8-24.11-obj
drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 168 2005-02-19 15:22 packages
jim@linux:/usr/src> file linux
linux: symbolic link to `linux-2.6.8-24.11'
jim@linux:/usr/src>


If I wanted to get rid of this symlink = rm linux & then I would have to go and shoot myself.
Hope this helps.

SnakeDriver, thanks for the reply. Are we talking about the same thing? I need to make a change to $PATH, and my symlinks (ls -l) don't look like they have much to do with that. Am I way off here? .

I think he means move or remove /usr/lib/jvm/jre/bin and symmlink it to the one you wish to use instead.

Im sure there is an easy way to remove something from your path, I cant remember what it is. I read a really good $PATH how-to guide thingy on the linux documentation project years ago, wish I remembered more from it.

harryc. " Are we talking about the same thing? I need to make a change to $PATH"

Sorry about that, I read
"But how do I delete
CODE
/usr/lib/jvm/jre/bin " and jumped to symlink conclusion.

Well it was a good drill for me anyway; something that I should/need to know. I apologize for wasting your time though.

IMHO whatever suse executes last is what is going to rule. At least it seems that way to me when I read my boot log. So one way is to put you PATH code in the proper config file near the end. Saying that, I looked for /etc/profile.local & I do beleive that I do not have it, although /etc/profile says to use it.

I got some help earlier with nano, I was using "export PATH=$Paath:/usr/local/bin" and asked for help to make it permanent & was recommended a symlink solution = "ln -s /usr/local/bin/nano /usr/bin/nano which worked like a charm.

If you are using j2re1.4.2 have you tried removing jre in yast?

let us know how it turns out.

Ah..(slaps self upside of head). I see. I didn't think of that. Good one SnakeDriver. Thanks Shatrat

I ended up creating /etc/profile.local (yes it did not exist) and added the following;

export PATH=/usr/java/jre1.5.0_02/bin:$PATH
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/jre1.5.0_02/bin

Worked like a charm on reboot. I was going to use jre 1.4.2, but it did not work with the latest Azureus, so I installed 1.5.0. Both Azureus and jre are 32 bit, and this on an x86_64 install. I also left the 64 bit jre 1.4.2 installed because OO had a dependancy on it. It all works, but don't ask me how .

Well Done!

Where is PATH file saved. or where can it be edited directly?

Originally posted by E@zyVG@Apr 12 2005, 08:02 AM
Where is PATH file saved. or where can it be edited directly?

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Good question that I never got answered myself.